Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat has reaffirmed the government’s determination to restore lasting peace in the Kerio Valley, saying security operations targeting criminals and armed groups in the volatile region will continue until normalcy is fully restored.

Lagat made the remarks on Sunday, October 4, 2026, while speaking in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, where he commissioned a new police mosque at Eldoret Central Police Station. According to a report on his remarks, the DIG said the government had intensified operations aimed at silencing illegal guns and dealing with criminal elements responsible for insecurity in the Kerio Valley. 

The latest statement comes as the government steps up efforts to address banditry and other forms of armed crime in parts of the North Rift. The Kerio Valley has for years experienced insecurity associated with bandit attacks, livestock theft, illegal firearms and conflicts involving communities living along county and regional borders.

Lagat says operation to continue

Lagat's message was direct: the ongoing security operation will not be abandoned until the government achieves its objective of pacifying the Kerio Valley.

He said security agencies have intensified their activities against criminals in the region and are determined to ensure residents can live, work, farm and conduct business without fear of armed attacks. The DIG also indicated that police operations have been expanded beyond the Kerio Valley to cover criminal gangs operating in parts of the North Rift and Western Kenya. 

The government’s approach is therefore not limited to responding to individual attacks. Instead, security agencies are seeking to disrupt criminal networks, recover illegal firearms and prevent armed groups from regrouping after security operations.

The renewed emphasis on security also comes at a significant time for Kenya, with preparations for the 2027 General Election already underway. Lagat has previously emphasized the need for adequate police preparedness as the country approaches the election period.

Kerio Valley security gains

The government has reported significant progress in the campaign against banditry.

In September, Lagat said security operations in the Kerio Valley had achieved an estimated 80 per cent success rate in efforts to contain banditry. He made the remarks during the closing ceremony of a General Service Unit training programme at the Magadi Field Training Camp in Kajiado County. 

The DIG linked the progress to sustained security operations and the deployment of additional personnel capable of operating in difficult terrain.

He also said the deployment of newly trained GSU officers would strengthen the National Police Service's ability to respond to banditry and other criminal activities.

The 1,273 newly trained GSU officers were prepared for challenging assignments, including working in difficult environments. Their training covered areas such as physical endurance, survival skills, discipline, teamwork and modern policing technology. 

This additional manpower could become important in areas where security agencies must cover large and rugged territories.

Illegal firearms remain a major concern

One of the biggest challenges facing the government's campaign is the availability of illegal firearms among civilians and criminal groups.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently announced plans for a fresh operation to recover illegal weapons in the Kerio Valley. He said security personnel would be increased substantially in areas affected by insecurity before targeted operations to recover firearms began. 

Murkomen identified areas including Turkana South along the West Pokot border and Turkana East along the Baringo–Tiaty border as among locations that continued to face security challenges.

The Interior CS said civilian possession of firearms remained one of the factors contributing to insecurity. He warned that the planned disarmament operation would be challenging but maintained that recovering illegal weapons was necessary to address banditry.

The government's position is that removing illegal firearms from communities can significantly reduce the ability of armed groups to conduct raids, attack residents and steal livestock.

Multi-agency approach

The campaign in the Kerio Valley has involved multiple security agencies rather than relying solely on ordinary police officers.

Previous operations have brought together the Kenya Defence Forces, General Service Unit and Anti-Stock Theft Unit, among other security formations. The multi-agency approach is designed to give security teams greater operational capacity when dealing with heavily armed criminals and difficult terrain. 

The government has also emphasized intelligence gathering and cooperation between security agencies.

Recent remarks by Murkomen indicated that intelligence-led operations aimed at recovering firearms were continuing, alongside consultations with local communities. The government has also discussed increasing the number of National Police Reservists in areas facing security challenges.

This suggests that authorities are combining enforcement with local security structures in an effort to prevent criminals from exploiting gaps between different communities and counties.

Past operations recorded weapons recoveries

The campaign to remove illegal firearms from the Kerio Valley has previously resulted in significant recoveries.

In September 2025, the National Police Service reported that 19 additional firearms, 109 rounds of assorted ammunition and a rifle grenade had been surrendered to security officers in the Tot and Chesongoch areas. The NPS described the recovery as an important milestone in efforts to eliminate illegal arms and reduce armed crime. 

The government has also previously reported the recovery of hundreds of illegal firearms during broader disarmament operations.

In December 2025, Murkomen said more than 1,000 guns had been recovered from the Kerio Valley area in less than six months. He said the strategy involved securing areas already cleared of criminals before expanding operations into neighbouring areas. 

Such recoveries are considered important because illegal firearms can remain in circulation for years and can be transferred between criminal groups.

Impact on residents

For communities living in the Kerio Valley, improved security has the potential to transform daily life.

Insecurity has historically affected livestock keeping, farming, education, transportation and trade. Bandit attacks can force families to abandon their homes, while schools and businesses may close when communities fear attacks.

The government has previously reported that some schools that had been closed because of insecurity were able to reopen as security improved. The return of children to classrooms is one of the clearest indicators of how improved security can restore normal life. 

Better security can also allow farmers and pastoralists to move freely, enable traders to access markets and encourage investment in areas that have previously been considered risky.

Infrastructure also important

Security officials have increasingly recognized that military and police operations alone cannot provide a permanent solution.

Poor roads and difficult terrain can make it difficult for security teams to respond quickly when attacks occur. The government has therefore linked security improvements with infrastructure development.

Murkomen previously said resources had been approved for road improvements intended to help security teams access areas affected by banditry. Better roads can allow police and other security agencies to move faster during emergencies and improve surveillance across remote areas. 

Community cooperation

Security agencies have also called on residents to cooperate with authorities by providing information about suspected criminals and illegal weapons.

Community cooperation is particularly important in remote areas where police officers may not have immediate access to information about criminal movements.

Lagat previously urged residents to assist security agencies in identifying and locating suspected criminals during an intensified operation in Tot. He warned individuals holding illegal firearms to surrender them and said authorities would pursue those who refused to comply. 

The government has therefore placed both security enforcement and community cooperation at the centre of its strategy.

Security ahead of 2027 elections

The renewed security campaign also has a national dimension because Kenya is moving toward the 2027 General Election.

Lagat has said police officers will be required to remain prepared for challenging assignments as the country approaches the elections. Newly trained officers are expected to strengthen the National Police Service's capacity to respond to security threats across the country. 

The DIG has also said police operations will cover criminal gangs and other threats in the North Rift and Western Kenya.

For communities in the Kerio Valley, maintaining peace before, during and after the election period will be important because political tensions can sometimes worsen existing community disputes.